Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 995, Azariah Dunham, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
Dunham, Azariah
S. 995
carded
CONTENTS

22.894. New Jersey Azariah Dunkham deceased in the State of New Jersey who was a Private in the Corps commanded by Captain Moyer of the Regt. commanded by Col. Neilson in the New Jersey line for 20 Months " "
Inscribed on the Roll of New Jersey at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Dec. 1833 — " — and Rentals J. H. Rau: — Cash present.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 33 $166.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mo. 34 33.33 $200.00
Revolutionary Claim, Estol June 7, 1832. Recorded by G. C. Stiles Clerk Book E, Vol. 3. Page 108.

Declaration of Azariah Harkham of Middlesex county N Jersey in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 1 th 1832.
State of New Jersey
Middlesex county ss to all to whom these presents shall come, I, Azariah Harkham, do hereby certify that on the twenty eighth day of August in the thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared before the Judges of the Superior Court of Common Pleas of this county of Middlesex Azariah Harkham of Middlesex county N Jersey and first, that he was born in the county of Middlesex, N Jersey on the twenty fifth day of December 1760 and he well recollects that he was just fifty two years of age on the day of the capture of the Hessians at Trenton and although he has no record of his age yet has been frequently informed of it by his mother's relations. He lived then when called into the service - which then having the war - confine often lives then. He cannot by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory from poverty, to the precise length of all his services in the war of the revolution yet he has no doubt that he served during the periods below mentioned. In 1776 in the year of a private. He entered (being enrolled regularly) the service of the United States in the year 1777. in a company commanded by Capt William Manning & a regiment commanded by Col John Webster of the Middlesex Brigade of the Jersey Militia - And in the year '77 served at least two terms of a month each (being elapsed yearly in due course) in Capt Manning's 2 d Col Webster's reg't at Woodbridge providing that station the adjacent country. In the year 1778 he was ordered out served four terms of a month each - the first under Capt Freeman - the second under Capt Gabbai & the third and fourth under Capt William Manning and

was stationed on the Woodbridge Station guard He lives in Paterson the country I believe Midsummer of this year was marched to the west at the time the enemy came into New Jersey from Philadelphia to Burlington county. He then to Mountville county. Saltsburg is the great battle was fought in that vicinity - this was under Capt. Loring during the time he was under his 11th In. In the year '79 he served at least four towns of one month each - These four towns were in found under Capt. Davis Mountain. He then and was stationed between Woodbridge & Elizabeth town engaged guard duty. He lives in Paterson town. Several times that section of the state. In the year '80 he was ordered out of service at 14th In. least this year four towns of a month each under Capt. Mountain Major Edgar and Col. Crow was stationed at Woodbridge engaged & guard duty the country, defending the property of disloyal citizens from the depredations of the enemy. In the year '81 he was ordered out of service they fought off a superior force under Capt. & was given the opportunity of being one of the station duty between Woodbridge during this same year '80 at the period of the landing of the rebels under Genl. Elizabeth town. This destruction of property, is that power of the state & was marched to the and I met the enemy just after the battle of Springfield. I followed on & skirmishing into parties of them. See Elizabeth town had a small fight with them - during which some of his men were killed. He then 3rd In. In the year '81 he served at least three towns

of a small creek under Cape Sable have the superiority of all their stations between Woodstock & Nova Scotia generally along the lines I receive the protection of the department, families benefits of his fellow citizens from the department of the town of Sable. In '82 he served at 2100 level two towns for most part under Cape Sable have the superiors generally the Woodstock station. The above district and is from that he served much more being in addition to this regular service frequently also upon a case of alarm. Service etc. He now receives a written discharge from the service and has not any government, evidence of his services but has been to refer to Peter P. Robinson & D. P. Randolph who were his his reputable neighbors who can attest to his character for veracity. I then belief of his services but is not able to prove. The certificate of a clergyman as the old minister of his parish has removed some short time from area, is not personally and there to the present minister and also re- fers considerably to Garet Stevens, Henry White, James Langstaff and John Langstaff surviving soldiers of the revolution who served with him. Who can attest to his services - persons whom he does not know that he can prove as other living witnesses. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present I declare that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any state. Subscribed sworn to the day & year aforesaid in presence of the foregoing, above before execution Peter P. Burneyon Judge
Agassiz Dunham

We Peter P. Robinson and D. Fitz Randolph both members of the court, of Middlesex New York, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abner D. D. Durham who has signed Oath to the foregoing declaration - That on hearing him to be in the seventieth year of his age - That he is a native of the state of in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution. That in our opinion is that opinion - Given under our hands the day of Peter P. Robinson D. Fitz Randolph Peter P. Robinson judge
On the day herein mentioned, before the Judge aforesaid, personally appeared Garret O'Neil, who being duly sworn, on his oath saith, that he is a sol- dier of the Revolution, and now in the receipt of a pension as such. That he is well acquainted with Abner D. Durham who has subscribed an oath to the foregoing declaration. That he has known him from boyhood. Knows him to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and to have long faithfully, but not belonging to the same company with him, nor out in the same service, except occa- sionally, cannot pretend to specify times. Recollects him, however, at the battle of the Brandywine month, and has no doubt from the character for truth and general probity of said Durham, that his statement in relation to his revolutionary services is correct. Given under our hands the day of Garret O'Neil Peter P. Robinson judge

A. Dunham
Admitted
Private 19 months
J T Randolph

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Azariah Dunham
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c, Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss.
County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District
of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and
served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers; the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby, relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Specification declaration of service in view of legal obligations to prove must be given

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following ( m ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
□ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

27.817
Arariah Dunham's application for a Pension under the act of June 1832.
Original
James F. Woodworth New Brunswick N. S.

In the day hereafter mentioned, before the Judge afore- said, personally appeared Henry Sutton, who being duly sworn saith, that he is a soldier of the Revo- lution and now receiving the full pension of a pri- vate - that he is well acquainted with Mariah Dunham, who has subscribed her name to the fore- going declaration, and has been acquainted with him from childhood - that they lived neigh- bors while boys and during the whole of the Revolution - that they belonged to the same company of militia, commanded by  in succession by Capt. Martin, Capt. Mr. Manning, & Capt. David Dunham, and served together from the time said Dun- ham entered the service, (which he thinks was in 1777) until the close of the war - that he knows that said Dunham served in each and every year from 1777 to 1782, both inclusive, as many as many as three or four tours of a month each in each year, with the exception, perhaps, of the first & the last, when his tours may not have exceeded two in each of those years - that said Dunham was a zealous and faithful soldier, doing his duty manfully. Believes said Dunham to be a man of veracity and whose statement in relation to his revolutionary services may be implicitly re- lied upon.
Subscribed hereto in open court This day, year aforesaid Peter P. Denny our judge.
Henry Sutton

In the day before aforesaid, before the undersigned personally appeared John Langstaff, who being duly sworn on his oath saith, that he is a soldier of the Revolution, and now receiving a Pension as such, that he is well acquainted with Daniel Dunham who has fabricated an oath to the foregoing declaration, has known him from boyhood, lived a near neighbor to him most of the time. Knows him to have served in the Revolution, belonged to the same military company with him, and served with him very often, recalled him from the year 1777 to 1782, that he served in each of the years between & including those years, from two to three or four times in each year - Knows said Dunham to have been a true thing, and real-ly engaged for his country. Has no doubt that he served quite as much as he has claimed in his declaration, and that his statement is correct.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Peter P. Hennyon Judge
John Langstaff
Also appeared as aforesaid James Langstaff who being duly sworn on his oath saith, that he is a soldier of the Revolution and now receiving a Pension as such - that he well knows Daniel Dunham, the foregoing applicant, belonged to the same company with him in the Revolution, knows that he served, and fully believes that he served as he states, but not being in the same class with him, they were not out together, & he cannot therefore specify his times, in the fact of his services he testifies, that he thinks  thinks that he served much, but he can go no further - save only that from said Dunham's character, he has entire confidence in the truth of his statement.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year aforesaid Peter P. Hennyon Judge
James Langstaff

And the said Board do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after justifying the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Board further certify that it appears to them that Peter P. Robinson & D. Peter Randolph, who have signed the general certificate as to the reputation of said applicant & their belief in his revolutionary services, and Garnet Barnes, Henry Vetter, John Langstaff & James Langstaff who have been examined as witnesses in his case, are all credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to full credit.
Robert W. Wehman Peter D. Tamm J. C. C. C. Jacob van Winkle
Nicholas Bourn, Clerk of the said Court of Sessions for the County of Middlesex at Jersey, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of Arrial Dunkan for a session
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand the seal of said Court this twenty eighth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty three.
4 Moran Elm